Sangria, a refreshing, fruit wine spritzer, has origins in Spain but is enjoyed worldwide as a lighter-than-wine cocktail. Sangria is commonly served in Spain, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and throughout South America. It has become a popular drink in Mexican restaurants in the United States.
According to “Blood, Wine and War: The History of Sangria," the wine cocktail was first mixed in Spain as far back as 200 BC. Sangria first came to the United States when it was brought to the World’s Fair in New York City in 1964.
Fruity and sparkling, sangria is a popular summer party drink. It has a lower alcohol content than many other cocktails, and it can be made ahead.
Easy Sangria Recipe
Start your sangria the night before you’ll serve it, to allow the fruit to permeate the drink.
- 1 bottle of red wine
- Brandy, just a splash
- 2 large oranges, peeled and sliced
- 2 lemons, peeled and sliced
- 2 limes, peeled and sliced
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ can of lemon lime soda, such as Sprite or 7-Up
Mix together in a pitcher, the wine, brandy, fruit and sugar. Stir well and allow to sit in the refrigerator to chill overnight. Before serving, stir well, add lemon-lime soda and lots of ice cubes. Serve in wine glasses with a lime or lemon slice on the rim.
Use Inexpensive Wine in Sangria
Sangria isn’t an expensive drink to make. Don’t use pricey wine. A bottle of cabernet sauvignon, merlot or pinot noir that is $10US or under makes a perfectly fine sangria. If making sangria blanca, use an inexpensive bottle of chardonnay, or your favorite white wine.
Variations to Sangria
- Make Sangria blanca by substituting white wine for red. Use an inexpensive bottle of chardonnay.
- In Northern Spain, sangria is called zurra and often has sliced peaches and nectarines added to the fruit.
- For an attractive presentation, serve sangria in a punch bowl and ladle it into cups. Be sure some pieces of fruit are in each cup.
- For an autumn sangria, include honey, cinnamon sticks and apple slices.
- Food and Wine.com suggests adding a basil syrup and orange juice to a traditional sangria recipe, for a sangria with pizzazz.
- Experiment with your favorite fruits: Mango, strawberries, plums, pineapple, pears, kiwi and more can be added to sangria
- Try some different liqueurs; such as cognac, dark rum, Cointreau or Grand Marnier, and even grenadine, triple sec and vermouth can be paired with fruit to make a delicious sangria.
Join the Conversation